| Feature | Pocket Option | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Year Established | 2017 | 1992 |
| Regulation | International Financial Market Relations Regulation Center (IFMRRC) | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $2,000 |
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary web-based platform, Mobile App | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, Web-based, Mobile App |
| Tradable Instruments | Binary Options on Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, ETFs, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Options |
| Number of Instruments | Over 100 | Over 72,000 |
| Spreads | Not applicable (binary options) | Variable, starting from 0.4 pips for major forex pairs |
| Commission on Trades | No commissions | Commissions apply, varying by market and account tier |
| Leverage | Up to 1:100 | Up to 1:30 for retail clients (higher for professional clients) |
| Social Trading | Yes, Copy Trading feature | No |
| Fractional Shares | No | No |
| Customer Support | 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone | 24/5 via live chat, email, and phone |
| Educational Resources | Basic tutorials and guides | Comprehensive, including webinars, tutorials, market analysis, and research tools |
| Research Tools | Limited | Advanced research tools, including TradingView integration and proprietary market insights |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfer, E-wallets (e.g., Skrill, Neteller), Cryptocurrencies | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfer |
| Withdrawal Fees | No withdrawal fees | No withdrawal fees |
| Inactivity Fees | No inactivity fees | Up to $150 after 6 months of inactivity |
| Regulatory Protection | Not specified | Investor compensation up to €100,000 (depending on jurisdiction) |
| Negative Balance Protection | Not specified | Yes |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Islamic Account | Not specified | No |
| Mobile Trading App Rating | 4.5/5 (iOS) and 4.3/5 (Android) | 4.5/5 (iOS) and 4.3/5 (Android) |
| Account Types | Standard, Demo | Classic, Platinum, VIP, Professional |
| Account Currencies | USD | USD, EUR, and multiple other currencies |
| Market Access | Limited to binary options markets | Over 50 global exchanges, including Europe, Asia, U.S., and emerging markets |
| Types of Orders | Call/Put options | Market, Limit, Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop, One-Cancels-Other (OCO) |
| Algorithmic Trading | No | Supported via API access and integration with platforms like MetaTrader and third-party APIs |
| API Access | No | Yes, for advanced traders through Saxo OpenAPI |
| Bond Trading | No | Available, with access to government and corporate bonds globally |
| Options Trading | Binary options only | Available, with detailed options strategies and global derivatives markets |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes, includes futures on commodities, indices, and interest rates |
| Interest on Cash Balances | No interest | Interest earned on cash balances (depends on the account tier and currency) |
| Margin Trading | Not applicable | Yes, available with competitive margin rates based on account type and market |
| Portfolio Management | No | Managed portfolios available for high-net-worth clients |
| Corporate and Institutional Accounts | No | Yes, offers corporate and institutional account management |
| Trading Fees for Futures and Options | Not applicable | Competitive tiered fees based on volume, often lower for Platinum and VIP clients |
| Corporate Actions Handling | Not applicable | Comprehensive, includes participation in rights issues and corporate events |
| News and Market Insights | Limited | Access to Reuters, Dow Jones, and in-depth proprietary research reports |
| Advanced Charting Tools | Basic charting tools | Advanced tools with multi-chart views, drawing tools, and TradingView compatibility |
| TradingView Integration | No | Yes |
| Hedging and Short Selling | No | Full hedging and short-selling capability, including direct market access |
| Fees for FX Trading | Not applicable | Tight spreads, with optional commission-based structure for tighter bid/ask spreads |
| Custom Watchlists | Yes | Yes |
| Account Tier Benefits | Not specified | Saxo’s Classic, Platinum, and VIP accounts offer lower fees, exclusive reports, and events |
| Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP) | Not applicable | Yes, on certain instruments like stocks and ETFs |
| Interest Rate Swaps for Overnight Positions | Not applicable | Yes, based on the funding rates for margin products |
| Financial Advisory Services | No | Yes, for VIP and wealth management clients |
| Crypto Wallet Support | No | No dedicated wallet, crypto traded only through derivatives |
| Account Verification Process | Simplified KYC with basic identity verification | Strict KYC and AML procedures, requires proof of identity, address, and financial suitability |
| Order Execution Speed | Instant execution for binary options | Variable execution speed based on order type, market conditions, and liquidity |
| Slippage Protection | Not applicable for binary options | Available, with limit and stop orders to minimize slippage |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 trading for binary options | Market-dependent, aligned with global financial markets |
| Asset Ownership | No actual ownership, only speculating on price movement | Real asset ownership for stocks, ETFs, and bonds; derivatives for leveraged trading |
| Custom Indicators | Limited selection of built-in indicators | Advanced custom indicator support, including third-party add-ons |
| Corporate Bond Trading | Not available | Access to global corporate bonds with varying yields and risk levels |
| Government Bond Trading | Not available | Access to sovereign bonds from major economies |
| Multi-Currency Account Support | USD-based accounts only | Supports multiple currencies for account funding and trading |
| Interest Rate Arbitrage | Not available | Possible through forex swaps and carry trade strategies |
| Volatility-Based Trading Instruments | Limited to high/low binary options | Access to VIX (Volatility Index) and other volatility-related instruments |
| Tax Reporting Support | Basic transaction history for self-reporting | Detailed tax reporting tools, capital gains calculations, and tax-lot accounting |
| Execution Transparency | Trade execution details not always disclosed | Full Level 2 market depth and execution reports available |
| Advanced Order Types | Only standard binary options trades | Complex order types, including iceberg orders and conditional orders |
| VIP Perks and Loyalty Benefits | Higher payouts for high-volume traders | Tiered benefits including lower fees, priority support, and exclusive insights |
| Forex Pairs Availability | Major and minor currency pairs for binary trading | Over 180 forex pairs, including exotic currencies |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most payment methods | Varies; bank transfers may take 1-3 business days |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 24 hours for most methods | 1-5 business days depending on method and account tier |
| Market Depth Visibility | Not available | Full order book depth with bid/ask levels |
| Direct Market Access (DMA) | Not available | Available for high-frequency and institutional traders |
| Smart Order Routing | Not applicable | Intelligent order routing across global exchanges for best execution |
| OTC Market Access | Limited OTC trading | Extensive OTC trading options, including fixed-income securities |
| Real-Time Price Alerts | Push notifications and SMS alerts | Fully customizable real-time price, volume, and news alerts |
| HFT (High-Frequency Trading) Support | Not designed for HFT | Infrastructure supports institutional-grade HFT strategies |
| Dark Pool Trading | Not available | Access to dark pools for large block trades without impacting market price |
| Custodial Services | Not applicable | Available for high-net-worth and institutional clients |
| Crypto Derivatives | Only spot trading binary options | Futures and options on cryptocurrencies for leveraged trading |
| Stock Lending and Borrowing | Not available | Available for short selling and yield enhancement |
| Multi-Device Synchronization | Web and mobile platforms sync automatically | All platforms (desktop, web, mobile) sync with real-time data |
| Economic Calendar Integration | Basic market event notifications | Advanced economic calendar with filters and impact analysis |
| Sentiment Analysis Tools | Simple trader sentiment display | AI-driven sentiment analysis and alternative data insights |
| Proprietary Trading Algorithms | No algorithmic trading support | In-house developed AI-driven trading models and risk analysis |
| Multi-Language Support | Available in several languages | Supports multiple global languages, with region-specific customer service |
| Trading Volume Discounts | Higher payouts for frequent traders | Lower spreads and commissions for high-volume traders |
| Custom Algorithm Deployment | No support for custom scripts | Full API access and support for algorithmic trading |
| Blockchain Integration | Limited to crypto deposits and withdrawals | Crypto trading via derivatives, no direct blockchain integration |
| Order Execution Model | Internalized market-making model for binary options | ECN/STP execution with access to liquidity providers |
| Yield-Enhancing Strategies | Only through binary options payouts | Access to covered calls, dividend capture, and interest-bearing accounts |
| Extended Trading Hours | 24/7 for binary options | Pre-market and after-hours trading for select assets |
| Fixed-Income Products | No bond trading | Government bonds, corporate bonds, and structured debt products |
| Direct Integration with External Platforms | Standalone proprietary platform | Integrates with TradingView, Bloomberg Terminal, and third-party APIs |
| Commissions on Stock Trading | Not applicable | Varies by region, typically lower for high-tier accounts |
| Access to IPOs and New Issues | Not available | Institutional and retail access to IPOs and secondary offerings |
| SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) Trading | Not supported | Available for select SPACs |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | Not available | Publicly traded REITs accessible via stock exchanges |
| ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Investment Options | No specific ESG offerings | Dedicated ESG fund screening tools and sustainability ratings |
| Multi-Account Management | Each account is separate | Portfolio-level management for multiple sub-accounts |
| Derivatives Trading on Precious Metals | Limited to spot gold and silver binary options | Futures, options, and ETFs on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium |
| Cash Settlement for Options | Not applicable | Available for certain index and forex options |
| Synthetic Instruments | Basic binary options only | Custom synthetic instruments via structured products |
| Historical Data Access | Limited | Deep historical data for backtesting strategies |
| Market Correlation Tools | Not available | Tools to analyze asset correlations and portfolio risk |
| Seasonality Analysis | No seasonal pattern tracking | Charts and reports on historical seasonal trends |
| Arbitrage Trading Tools | Not available | Supported for spread trading and multi-market arbitrage |
| Sovereign Wealth Fund Access | No institutional-grade investment products | Access to SWF-backed securities and sovereign bonds |
| Pension Fund Investment Options | No direct retirement accounts | Available through managed pension portfolios |
| Cross-Asset Portfolio Construction | Only binary options portfolio | Supports multi-asset diversified portfolios across equities, bonds, forex, and commodities |
| Quantitative Trading Indicators | Basic indicators only | Advanced quant-based tools for statistical trading |
| Risk Parity Investment Strategies | Not available | Portfolio tools to balance risk across asset classes |
| Customizable Trading Environment | Fixed platform interface | Fully customizable trading layouts and widgets |
| Execution Venue Selection | Not applicable | Traders can choose liquidity providers and exchanges |
| Third-Party Strategy Integration | Copy trading only | Integrates with external strategy providers and hedge funds |
| Stock Option Strategies | Only binary options | Covered calls, straddles, spreads, and advanced derivatives strategies |
| Interbank Forex Access | Market-maker model | Direct access to interbank forex liquidity |
| Multi-Currency Deposit and Withdrawal | Primarily USD transactions | Multiple currency funding options |
| Dividend Capture Strategies | Not applicable | Trade execution strategies designed for dividend capture |
| Interest Rate Futures | No futures trading | Full access to interest rate futures on major exchanges |
| Convertible Bonds | No bond trading | Access to convertible corporate bonds |
| Carbon Credit Trading | Not supported | Available in select regions via futures contracts |
| Crypto Staking or Lending | No staking or lending | Limited access through ETFs and structured notes |
| Stock Buyback Participation | No direct participation | Investors can hold stocks eligible for buyback programs |
| Social Responsibility Screening for Investments | No ethical investment filters | ESG screening tools to filter responsible investments |
| Mergers & Acquisitions Impact Tools | No corporate action insights | Market intelligence on M&A activities affecting stocks |
| Market Replay for Strategy Testing | Not available | Simulation tools for backtesting trading strategies |
| Regulatory Filing Alerts | No direct access | Alerts on SEC filings, earnings reports, and regulatory disclosures |
| Global Macro Analysis Tools | Limited macroeconomic data | Dedicated macroeconomic dashboards for forecasting |
| Options on ETFs | Only binary options | ETF options for hedging and leverage strategies |
| Banking Services (Savings, Loans) | Not available | Premium clients have access to deposit and lending services |
Pocket Option is a beginner-friendly binary options platform with instant execution, while Saxo Bank offers a sophisticated multi-asset trading experience with institutional-grade tools and market access.